Update to the Strategic Enrollment and Retention Task Force August 24, 2010 Retention Subcommittee

Meeting Dates Every two weeks since February 1, 2010 Participants –Greg Barker, Testing Services –John Jones, Student Affairs/Enrollment Management –Cynthia Nelson, Mathematics –Michelle Pickett, Academic Advising Center –Denis Rode, Orientation & First Year Experience –Micky Sharma, Counseling & Student Development Ctr. –Jill Zambito, Off Campus & Non-Traditional Students –Dana Gautcher, Office for Student Academic Success –Linda Traff, Administration & Univ. Outreach –Lori Marcellus, College of Business –Brad Bond, Graduate School –Denise Hayman, CHANCE

Data Reviewed Provided in April, 2010 presentation Additional review –Undergraduate students who leave –Performance gaps Under-represented students

Progress Objective #1 –Enhance student learning and success in an effort to improve undergraduate persistence, retention and graduation rates Strategic Objective –Improve semester-to-semester retention and graduation rates of undergraduate students

Specific Strategies/Program Ideas/Outcomes Strategy #1 –Establish a campus-wide process for the identification of and intervention with “High Risk” (“At Risk”) freshmen Establish a coordinating committee through the Office of the Vice Provost & Office for Student Academic Success (OSAS) Develop a definition of “High Risk” Strategy #1 Outcome –Plan in place – Fall 2012 –Reality – Implementing process now

Specific Strategies/Program Ideas/Outcomes Strategy #2 –Intervene with “High Risk” freshmen Utilize OSAS to coordinate campus-wide effort Strategy #2 Outcome –Decrease percentage of freshmen who obtain a first-year GPA of less than 2.0 by 7% (Fall 2008 Cohort = 21%)

Specific Strategies/Program Ideas/Outcomes Strategy #3 –Establish a campus-wide process for the identification and intervention with “High Risk” transfer students Establish a coordinating committee through the Office of the Vice Provost & OSAS Strategy #3 outcome –Plan in place – Fall 2012 –Discussions have begun

Specific Strategies/Program Ideas/Outcomes Strategy #4 –Intervene with “High Risk” transfer students Utilize OSAS to coordinate campus-wide effort Develop definition of “High Risk” transfer student Strategy #4 outcome –Decrease percentage of transfer students who leave NIU by 1.5% per year (22% after first year – Fall 08 Cohort)

Specific Strategies/Program Ideas/Outcomes Strategy #5 – Identify and intervene with undergraduate students likely to leave NIU before obtaining a degree Coordinate efforts through the OSAS Strategy #5 outcome – Decrease the number of undergraduate students who leave NIU before earning a degree by 1% per year (Fall 08 Cohort = 15% in one year) – Increase the number of students who utilize student support services by 10 per year

Specific Strategies/Program Ideas/Outcomes Strategy #6 –Increase the 4-year graduation rate Strategy #6 outcome –Attain 30% 4-year graduation rate (8 year average = 24.7)

Specific Strategies/Program Ideas/Outcomes Strategy #7 – Develop a process for retaining off-campus degree completion undergraduate students Establish a coordinating committee through the Office of the Vice Provost Strategy #7 outcome – Plan in place – 2012 – Off-campus degree completion undergraduate students will have access to student support services utilizing appropriate technologies to meet their needs by 2012

Specific Strategies/Program Ideas/Outcomes Strategy #8 –Establish a base-line for retention of off campus degree completion undergraduate students Strategy #8 outcome –Decrease the number of students leaving off campus undergraduate degree completion programs

Specific Strategies/Program Ideas/Outcomes Strategy #9 –Develop a plan to improve the campus climate to facilitate student success and graduation Establish a campus wide task force to develop and monitor a plan –Strategy #9 outcome Plan in place – 2012

Specific Strategies/Program Ideas/Outcomes Strategy #10 –Decrease the gaps in graduation rates (students who are white vs. those from under-represented groups) Strategy #10 outcome –Decrease the graduation gaps by 2% per year to achieve gaps no greater than 10% (Currently -15.7%)

Specific Strategies/Program Ideas/Outcomes Strategy #11 –Decrease the graduate gap in graduation (male vs. female students) Strategy #11 outcome –Decrease the graduation gaps by 1% per year to achieve equal rates (Currently -4.3%)

Next Steps Determine targets –First-year retention for new freshmen = 80% - 85% –Six-year graduation for new freshmen Return to 51%-52% Five year plan = 55%-60% (need to finalize)

Next Steps Graduate Students –Focus on Time to degree for master’s level Completion of doctoral degrees

Questions and Comments